So we start a new year.

The first few days of January were all about catching up on 2023 tasks, but I'm there now. 

The last week has been easier, gradually preparing all the materials for teaching this semester and establishing a selection of possible projects for 2024. 

One of the first 2024 things is the release of Fractal Episode 5, Luna. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Luna-Fractal-Episodes-Book-5-ebook/dp/B0CCKGFXVC

As mentioned before, the Fractal Episodes are standalone stories in the same setting as Captain Ellisa Shann's adventures in Fearless , Resilient and the forthcoming, Vigilance. These shorter works expand the narrative and provide context to what was happening elsewhere whilst Shann and her crew were on their mission. The idea for them came from Nick Wells at Flame Tree Press. The first four episodes have been released in September, October, November and December. The last two are coming out this month and next month.

The aftermath of finishing another novel draft takes a little bit of time to adjust to. I've been able to spend a bit of time playing games, watching some television, catching up on the housework. All the things that I struggle with as a deadline approaches and my focus narrows into a smaller and smaller space. 

One of the nice diversions has been the opportunity to play more Baldur's Gate 3. I play a multiplayer adventure with some of my old friends from childhood and its been brilliant way for us to get together regularly every Sunday night.

Back in 2021, during the Covid lockdown, I had the opportunity to work for Larian Studios on Act 2 of the game. During the winter break between semesters, I was approached to join a freelance writing group who were working on the scenes under the direction of the studio writers. I produced a selection of scenes alongside some of the others invited onto the project. 

Revisiting some of those scenes to see what made it into the game has been a really nice experience. I was only part of the development process for a little while, but BG3 has been received incredibly well since it's release and Larian deserve all of the plaudits. The way they prioritised writing in their studio's work shines through in the final product. The huge sprawling story of this game is incredible and provides a wonderful gaming experience for everyone who decides to play.

Part of the game's appeal is its approach to the different types of character you can play and interact with. BG3 embraces social and personal relationships in a way that fantasy roleplaying games have not managed to do in the past.

I grew up reading fantasy quests where the intimacies between characters were hinted at, but never explored. As a teenage fantasy fan, I learned from the characters in books how to be a part of the adventure as the cleric, the thief, the warrior or the wizard. But I didn't learn how to be anything more than a friend to the people I was adventuring with. There was a strange hesitation among the writers of the day. Feist, McCaffrey, Brooks, Eddings, Weis and the rest all fed my imagination, but left out some of the detail. Making the awkward, even more awkward.

Baldur's Gate 3 embraces that missing detail - the intimacy between characters thrown together on a quest and exploring their identities as young adults. Maybe some of the attractions aren't for you, but that's part of the point. They don't have to be. We can all accept each other. We don't have to disapprove. 

In some respects, that's the kind of thing writers like Tej Turner are trying to do so in their novels. The Blood Legacy trilogy is very much a series in the tradition of all those epic fantasies of the past, but it doesn't shy away from heroes being attracted to each other and following up on those feelings.

I think there may be a post Baldur's Gate 3 reaction among fantasy writers. In the past, we've certainly seen the influence of roleplaying games on fantasy novels, and there are more and more writers in the genre who grew up on playing Dungeons and Dragons, or Runequest or something similar. Now, we might see another generation of inspired creators who use Larian's epic game as a roadmap to explore fantasy in a more mature and less inhibited way. Teenage readers are looking for roadmaps and rolemodels in their lives all the time. It doesn't matter if they find them in fantasy worlds so long as they find them and they get good advice. 

Being a Healthy Writer

So, I promised a weekly update on my slow journey towards getting fit and health again after a long period dealing with imminent deadlines and the like.

This week has been about taking a little time to rest and relax alongside the tasks and to do lists. However, I have started to explore some ideas around health and wellbeing that is lasting, positive and part of enjoying life, not just about being fit or dieting.

If you're not a listener to Michael Mosley's Just One Thing series on Radio 4, let me be the first to recommend it to you. There are a whole series of life lessons that address different habits we all have and evaluate them in relation to how we live. Whether you're a tea drinker (like me) and need a little validation for why your favourite drink is good for you, or need a little advice on how to make your morning rituals to be a little healthier, there will be something in this series for you.

Currently, I'm taking a few of the tips from the series and starting to construct a steady plan for myself. I want it to be a lasting change, so some of the previous 'exercise blitz' periods in my life aren't going to work. 

A small change for right now, is around being sat down. We all know sitting down for too long is really bad for you. So, I'm changing my habits. Going forwards, I'm sitting down for no more than an hour at a time.